PITTBURGHOPERA page 1 For Immediate Release December 28, 2009 Contact: Kesha M. Pate, Public Relations Manager Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 248 Mobile: (412) 979-0912 [email protected] Pittsburgh Opera Presents Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia A beautiful amalgam of dramatic power and expressive richness What: Benjamin Britten’s opera The Rape of Lucretia Where: CAPA Theater 9th Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Downtown Pittsburgh When: Saturday, January 30, 8:00 PM Tuesday, February 2, 7:00 PM Discover Yourself Friday, February 5, 8:00 PM Sunday, February 7, 2:00 PM 2009-2010 Season Run Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes, including one 20 minute intermission Language: Sung in English with English titles projected above the stage Tickets: All tickets $45. Call 412-456-6666 for more information or visit www.pittsburghopera.org Pittsburgh, PA… In the last decade, Pittsburgh Opera has sought to vastly expand its repertoire, with particular attention being given to the works of Benjamin Britten. Recent productions include the critically-acclaimed Billy Budd, The Turn of the Screw and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In January, Pittsburgh Opera will add the compelling and tragic “chamber opera” The Rape of Lucretia. This new production, featuring the talents of the Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera, will be performed at CAPA Theater in downtown Pittsburgh, January 30 through February 7, 2010. Each season, Pittsburgh Opera mounts a fully staged production featuring its Resident Artists. The quality of talent in the Resident Artist Program has developed these annual productions into a welcomed addition to the Company’s offerings. Pittsburgh Opera is proud to once again cast the spotlight on these bright young singers with this new production of the ancient tale of Lucretia’s faithfulness and the injustices visited upon her. Pittsburgh Opera has enlisted the work of two Carnegie Mellon University students for this new production. Scott Tedmon-Jones will design the sets and Kim Lorenzt will design the costumes. This relationship was formed in the interest of fostering new artistic talents in our community and mentoring budding young designers. (more) 2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org PITTBURGHOPERA page 2 Directing this production is Dan Rigazzi, who currently works on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera and is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Rigazzi previously worked with Pittsburgh Opera on the 2005 production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. Maestro Glenn Lewis returns to the podium, after having conducted the successful run of Don Pasquale in the 2008-2009 season. The Rape of Lucretia is a compelling and complicated work for which the intimacy and connectedness of the CAPA Theater is ideal. Operagoers will feel a part of the story with the up-close view provided by the theater. Tickets are $45 for all available seats in CAPA Theater. For additional information or to purchase tickets call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org. Facts About The Opera and Composer The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten is an opera in two acts, each divided into two scenes, linked by interludes. Discover Yourself 2009-2010 Season The Rape of Lucretia is Britten’s first chamber opera, composed for eight solo singers and an instrumental ensemble of 13 players. The libretto for The Rape of Lucretia was written by Ronald Duncan and is based on André Obey's play Le Viol de Lucrèce. The Rape of Lucretia premiered at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera in England on July 12, 1946. Though set in 500 B.C., The Rape of Lucretia has traditional Christian themes of salvation, redemption and eternal life throughout the opera. The final epilogue, answering the question “Is this it all?” with the Christian promises of eternal life and redemption, was not part of Duncan’s original libretto. Primarily for musical reasons, Britten altered the final epilogue to gradually transform from the mourning passacaglia into the final serene melody. The first United States production of The Rape of Lucretia was staged by Agnes de Mille on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre. The production opened on December 29, 1948 and closed after 23 performances on January 15, 1949. Benjamin Britten, an English composer, conductor, violist and pianist, was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England on November 22, 1913. (more) 2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org PITTBURGHOPERA page 3 Benjamin Britten is best known for a series of English operas – Peter Grimes (1945), Billy Budd (1951) and The Turn of the Screw (1954). Other notable works include his Shakespeare opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960) and his comic opera Albert Herring (1947). Benjamin Britten died in his home at Aldeburgh in the County of Suffolk, England on December 4, 1976. The Story The opera begins with the Male Chorus telling the story of how Tarquinius Superbus came to rule Rome by force. The Female Chorus adds how he involves the Romans in war against the Greeks. The choruses reveal how the evil Tarquinius bribes, manipulates and murders his way onto the throne and declare in unison: "They'll view these human passions and these years through eyes which once have wept with Christ's own tears." Discover Yourself In the camp, Prince Tarquinius, son of Tarquinius Superbus, and two of his generals, Junius 2009-2010 and Collatinus, drink and discuss the infidelity of Roman wives. The generals went home Season the previous night to check on their wives, only to find they had been unfaithful. The only chaste wife was Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus. Tarquinius calls Junius a liar and Junius attacks the prince's brashness and his foreign birth. Junius is furious that his wife's philandering elevates Lucretia and Collatinus. Junius slyly challenges Tarquinius’ assertion that all women can be won, virtually daring Tarquinius to “conquer” Lucretia. Tarquinius expresses interest in Lucretia and leaves for Rome. Lucretia, her nurse Bianca and maid Lucia are at home, spinning and sewing. Lucretia desperately misses her husband Collatinus. Just when the women are preparing for bed, Prince Tarquinius arrives. Hospitality demands that Lucretia put the prince up for the night, even though his palace is very nearby. Tarquinius and the women bid each other good night. In the middle of the night, Tarquinius sneaks into Lucretia's bedroom and makes advances to Lucretia. Committed to remain faithful to Collatinus, she rejects him. Tarquinius rapes Lucretia at swordpoint. In the early morning, Lucia and Bianca arrange freshly cut flowers and admire the beautiful spring morning. Lucretia sends Collatinus an orchid, his favorite flower, telling him to hurry home. "Say it comes from a Roman harlot," Lucretia tells her maid. Realizing something has happened, Bianca tries to prevent the messenger from going, but it is too late. The orchid has been sent. (more) 2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org PITTBURGHOPERA page 4 Junius and Collatinus return and the broken-hearted Lucretia tells her husband what happened. Collatinus consoles his beloved wife and tells Lucretia the shame is on Tarquinius. Unable to bear the shame she cannot overcome, Lucretia kills herself. While Collatinus mourns, Junius uses the incident to incite the crowd against Tarquinius, hoping that he might be able to rule Rome instead of the Etruscans. The Male and Female Chorus end the opera with reflective words, wondering if sin and grief is all there is. "No, for Christ died that we might live," they sing. The Rape of Lucretia opens Saturday, January 30 and continues February 2, 5 and 7, 2009. Tickets are $45. Call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org to purchase tickets. This production is generously sponsored by the Giant Eagle Foundation. The Pittsburgh Opera 2009-2010 season is generously sponsored by PNC Foundation. Discover Yourself Cast and Artistic Team 2009-2010 (cast is listed in order of vocal appearance) Season Male Chorus Noah Baetge*+ tenor Female Chorus Danielle Pastin* soprano Collatinus Liam Moran* bass Junius Craig Verm** baritone Prince Tarquinius Dan Kempson*+ baritone Lucretia Lindsay Ammann* mezzo-soprano Bianca Katherine Drago* mezzo-soprano Lucia Shannon Kessler Dooley* soprano Stage Director Dan Rigazzi Conductor Glenn Lewis + Pittsburgh Opera Debut * Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist ** Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni Noah Baetge is a first-year Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera and will perform the role of Male Chorus. He is also slated to perform the role of Remendado in the Company’s 2010 production of Carmen and will be a soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the Erie Philharmonic in March 2010. A native of Seattle, Washington, Mr. Baetge began is operatic career as a member of the Seattle Opera Chorus and later joined the Seattle Opera Young Artist Program for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. There he performed several roles, including Fenton in Falstaff, Don José in Le Tragedie de Carmen, Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Parpignol in La bohème and Der Rosenkavalier as the Animal Vendor. Mr. Baetge’s (more) 2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org PITTBURGHOPERA page 5 operatic repertoire also includes the roles of Charlie in Das kleine Mahagonny, Rodolfo in La bohème and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Earlier this year Mr. Baetge became a Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Counsel competition after winning both the Seattle District and Regional competitions. He was also a second round semi-finalist in 2007 at the Competizione dell’Opera in Dresden, Germany. Singing the role of Female Chorus is second-year Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Danielle Pastin. Ms. Pastin made her Pittsburgh Opera mainstage debut in the 2008-2009 season as Rosasharn in The Grapes of Wrath and also sang the role of Mimì in the La bohème Student Matinee.